The Doors

Non-Phish General
#1

Starting this so we do not steal the Musical Crimes thread.

Morrison was not always a drunk. Later in life, he was a drunk. That is when the BLUES really really kicked in. LA Woman is a great album for a swan song.

There have been many times in my life when I have cursed Oliver Stone for making that g-d awful movie. He portrays one side of Morrison, and 80% of it is fabricated.

I have an original copy of “The Lords and the New Creatures” (thanks dad!), and there is AMAZING stuff in there. I have loved the Doors and James Morrison for as long as I can remember. I will be (have been) one of the annoying drunks in the bar that will argue my feelings on them. Most of his best stuff was never put into song, and the stuff that was is great still in my opinion.

I could probably ramble on and on about this… But I am interested in hearing others opinions. Icc and GRoad have a few points in a different thread, just thought I would bring this up.

#2

Oh, also, like Icc said, listen to ‘An American Prayer’. Morrison’s spoken word album, and after his death the remaining Doors put some music on a few tracks. (Another money making scheme, who knows?). To listen to that album is almost a religious experience of sorts for me… Also ‘Celebration of the Lizard’ is golden. A psychedlic ‘Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday’ if you will.

#3

I will restate what I had said in the other thread, and what I have told many a die-hard Doors fan: The main thing I don’t like about the Doors is Jim Morrison…I actually think some of their music is pretty decent, but I don’t like Morrison’s lyrics…If I’m to choose a Morrison as a poet, I’ll go with Van thank you very much…

I’ve only ever seen bits and pieces of that Oliver Stone flick, so I’m not judging him based on that…My mom and my older sister used to be in love with Jim Morrison and I actually read some biography on him once…(I was in Grade 8, so I don’t remember much)…It’s not so much him as a person as it is his boring, depressing lyrics, and godawful voice…I can see why young girls were attracted to him…he was a good looking guy, but I found no musical merit in what he did…I can’t be alone on this one, am I?

#4

Ray Manzerik (sp?) is off the hook. As is John Densmore. Um, and Robbie Kreiger.

As far as the ol’ Lizard King goes, I love him. I don’t have a very difficult time imagining how someone could hate him though, and I certainly never try to engage people in debates over the various merits of the Doors. What I will say is this: it’s a very, very difficult thing to succeed as a band without a bass player. I know they had one in the studio in the later years, but not on the early records. To me, this is a testament to their greatness.

but that’s just me.

#5

I’ll be totally honest. I never really got into The Doors that much. I like some of their songs, but their obscure stuff - forget it. I don’t know why that is. No disrespect to you Doors lovers, it’s just not my cup of tea.

#6

jim morrison, though he mightve been semi-insane, was a lyrical genius. he was actually really smart. listen to the end. this song is my favorite doors song because it just so damn intense. he actually used themes from oedipus in this song, you will know which lines im talking about because they are quite disturbing…

#7

Bring on the boo’s but I really dislike The Doors; almost to the point of hate. I make my husband turn the station when I hear them on. And I can tell you exactly why. I have actually been able to pinpoint the reason why I don’t like them and it is the organ. I hate organ noise and virtually all of their songs have that annoying noise in there. Don’t get me wrong, I love Page’s playing and all that he does with his instruments (except for julius… that does remind me of a circus church revival) but i generally hate the instument that is the organ. It grates on me. i guess it could be considered a peeve.

And don’t go naming all of the great songs that have oragn in them… i just irrationally don’t like te way it sounds in Doors songs… that’s it.

#8

I love The Doors.
While everyone was playing happy hippie music up in San Fran, they were getting dark and dirty down in L.A.

I think Morrison is a genius.

WillBreathes said:

Right on! Have you heard the 20 minute version from their “Live at MSG” disc?
Morrison was out of his mind. I love it.
“This concert is being recorded for eternity…and then some.” Classic Morrison.

Anyway, I love his "The American Night,The Writings of Jim Morrison " and “Wilderness : The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison”. Check it out if you like him.

On a side note… the opening & Closingof Apocalypse Now with “The End” playing…oh man.
The best!

#9

Is the ‘Live at MSG’ disc the ‘Live in New York’ which was one of the discs of the first box set? If so, yes, and I love that version.

However, my favorite ‘Celebration of the Lizard’ is from Absolutely Live.

"Once I had a little game
I liked to crawl back in my brain
I think you know the game I mean
I mean the game called ‘go insane’
Now you should try this little game
Just close your eyes forget your name
Forget the world, forget the people
And we’ll erect a different steeple.

This little game is fun to do.
Just close your eyes, no way to lose.
And I’m right here, I’m going too.
Release control, we’re breaking through."

#10

Yeah, that’s the version.

:sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses:
What a madman. F@#king Awsome.

#11

Morrison was Dionysis, Ledbelly, William S. Burroughs, and a Shaman…all rolled into one man.

#12

The Doors were actually the band that got me into jam music. I heard “the best of” the 1st time i was on some shrooms, and it grabbed me, but the Live extended jammed out/abstract versions of Break on through, Light my fire, The End, and everything in between lead me to Phish and the Dead. It really got me into bands with killer lead guitar players and bands with killer organ players(= Trey and Page). I own absolutely live and Willbreathes is right it is tremendous as is the “spoken word album”. Glad to see another phishhead who got into the doors as big as i did.

#13

I listened to a TON of DOORS in my musically fomative years. Especially STRANGE DAYS AND SOFT PARADE. I still whip out my DOORS vinyl when in the mood.

And my CD of AN AMERICAN PRAYER still gets regular spins by the fireplace with a nice bottle of wine…

#14

Here is a great new article on the only member of The Doors with the guts NOT to reform as The Doors 2000 or whatever crap they are peddling these days. Thanks JamBase!

http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=7495&disp=all

#15

hey, will. ive been wondering…whats the best commercial release of any live doors?

#16

I’ll partially agree with you. From seeing concert footage of him and how he would fuck up the whole concert by being (for lack of a better word) “out-of-control.” The cops would come in and shut down the concert and that annoyed me how he ruined things for the rest of the band. I’d imagine that Ray, Robbie, and John would probably be pretty pissed that they couldn’t play a show because Jim was doing his own thing w/o regard for anyone else.

But don’t get me wrong. I love the Doors and Jim Morrison is an entertaining fellow, but it seemed like he didn’t give a shit about his bandmates sometimes (but what do I know?).

#17

My favorite is “Absolutely Live”.

But you could go with “In Concert”, because the second disc is “Absolutely Live”, and the first disc is a whole 'nother disc of live stuff. Although I don’t think it stands up to “A.L.”

In the first box set there is “Live in New York” which is pretty amazing. You can hear the booze coming out of Morrison’s mouth during his rants which is interesting.

I also have “Live in America” which is alright. It is not one show, so there is definite differences in one track to the next, soundwise and whatnot. Definite highlight in that is the “Eleanor Rigby” jam in “Light My Fire”. It come sout of nowhere.

I would say “A.Live” is my favorite though, it contains a complete “Celebration of the Lizard” which is must-hear material. Plus it has a sick Alabama Song>Back Door Man>Love Hides>5 to 1 which is amazing. And the Dead Cats Dead Rats>Break on Through you might recognize from Oliver Stones movie when Jim (Val) is dancing through the crowd.

#18

I believe Kilmer channelled Morrison in that film!

#19

^cool will. I have heard of a.live before. im ssuming that IS all one concert right?

#20

^ I believe it is one show. Never really thought about it because it is so smooth throughout the entire recording. It definitely sounds like one show.